FC Barcelona were in Doha, Qatar, to play an exhibition match against Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli inside Al-Gharrafa Stadium when the meeting took place.

Ahmadi was among World Cup winners Andreas Iniesta, Gerard Pique and icons like Neymar and Louis Suarez, but it was Messi who held his attention.

As the players hung out with the boy in the tunnel before the game, Ahmadi was seen embracing the Barcelona star’s legs. They walked out hand-in-hand to the field where Ahmadi even found his way into the ceremonial team photo.

When it was time for the coin toss, Ahamdi would not let go of Messi’s left hand as the player picked the side of the field they would defend in the first half. Ahmadi even dropped the ball ceremoniously into the center of the field and ran over to his hero as he was getting ready to play.

Even before kickoff, the boy was like a shadow to Messi, never leaving his side. Messi, who has been awarded soccer's highest indivual honor — the Ballon d’Or — five times, had to politely tell the child to leave the field so he could prepare for the match.

As Ahmadi stood his ground, a referee eventually came to scoop up the boy and bring him to the sidelines.